Chap. VI,] A BELIE^'EK IX PRAYER. 61 



'■ Is there anything partictilar going on there, then ? " exclaimed 

 Faraday, in a hnrried manner. "Nothing particnlar,'" said my 

 father, " only the ordinary morning service." " Ah ! " replied 

 Faraday, '' we are then all three honnd for the one great ohject." 

 The fervent manner in which he nttered the last few words made 

 a great impression npon ns. I never hear the name of Faraday 

 mentioned without seeing him as I saw him then, his fine intel- 

 ligent face lit np with reverence and devotion. 



Alfied Smee was a firm heliever of the power of prayer, as we 

 find in the following lines : — 



Some men learned in many sciences liave called in question the effi- 

 cacy of prayer to alter the natural course of events. These men aigue that, 

 because Grod governs the ■world by immutable laws, He heeds not prayer. 

 Experience shows that the direct course of the afiiEiii-s of the imiveTse 

 is not interrupted by prayei- : the sun never i-evei-sed its course in con- 

 sequence of prayer ; nor did any person rise, contrary to gravitr. from one 

 floor to another by praying. But a study of the human mind indicates 

 that in all human actions prayers have great eft'eot in governing men's 

 actions, and leading to results, "When a man prays with earnestness and 

 sincerity, it affects his whole mind, and all his actions are directed to 

 obtam the result for which he prays. When many men pray for one 

 object, the purpose of many persons is directed to one end, and all con- 

 fiane in heart and will to obtain the desii>?d object. 



The influence of prayer on human actions, if tested by experience, will 

 be found to be immense- In producing resignation, and in confirming 

 action, its power is great, although its influence to control the laws of the 

 uniTerse is void, and of no effect.* 



In ' Instinct and Keason ' is the following illnstration, showing 

 the power of prayer over the actions of man, dnring the great 

 trial of the year 1849 : — 



During the prevalence of cholera in the infected districts, neither 

 writing, nor taltdi^, nor preaching, could canse the inhabitants to rouse 

 themsdves and prepare to endeavour to ward off death from their habita- 

 tions. At length, howerer. when Death had extensively accomplished his 

 work, men -were afraid, and in some parishes they even sacrificed a week- 

 day's profit u> pray that the malady might be stayed. To their prayers 

 and supplications they added all their endeavovirs to stop the pestilence : 

 they subscribed for the poorj they provided attendance, remedies, and 

 visitations ; and immediately the effect was felt, and the disease was lessened. 

 The people saw the necessity of acting vigorously and decidedly according 

 to the laws of the attack of the malady, which were, in fact, the laws of 

 God; thus their prayers were instantaneonsly followed by more or less 

 beneficial resnlts-f 



• See ' ifind of ^r:Ui,' jx 12^. f ^'^ ' Instinct and T^easson,' p, 226. 



